[Prenatal ultrasonic diagnosis of cleft lips and palates]

Abstract

The purpose of this communication is to demonstrate the possibility of prenatal diagnosis of cleft lips and palates by routine ultrasound screening. As obstetrical ultrasound improves, anomalies of the fetal face can be diagnosed more and more frequently in utero. From 1991 to 1994 9 cases with cleft face syndrome were detected prenatally. In 8 cases the presence of cleft lip and palate was isolated. In one case the cleft lip and palate was associated with phocomelia. In cases with cleft palate the widening of nasal cavity was observed. In cases with bilateral cleft palate polyhydramnions were observed twice and undulating movements of the tongue were also seen.